Spring suspension of self-propelled vehicles



. H. H. NEALE.

- v SPRING SUSPENSION 0F SELF PROPELLED VEHICLES.

APPLlATloN msn ocT. 6. 191e.

Patented Aug. 30, 192i.

UNITED STATES HERBERT H. NEALE, OIF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PATENT OFFICE.

l SPRING SUSPENSION F SELF-PROPELLED V'EFIGLES.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT" H. NEALE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in 'N ew York, N. Y., U. S. A., have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Spring Suspension of Selfvehicles, automobiles and trucks, will ridel smoothly and without jars, rebound, shocks, side-sway and lurching when passing over rough and uneven pavements and roads. I

attain this object by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cradle spring suspension with single springs fittedto the side-frame of a chassis. v

Figs. 2 and 5 are side elevations of single springs.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of the spring showing the yoke-end of the cradle an spring attachment with shackle.

Fig. 4, is across section of the cradle spring suspension,with singlespring, showing details of attachment to chassis and to axle. ,n j

The same numbers of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings 1 represents the cradle', of'which therewill be four, attached on,

side-frame of under orto, or integral with, the axles'at. kright angles, one to each axle on each slde of the chassis. The cradle may be made in the same manner as the chassis side-frame, of steel pressed to a channel or any other stress and strain resisting section, or may be wrought,.cast or forged of any other metal or combination of metals or fashioned out of any other material to any section,

rigid and noli-flexible. In shape it may be semi-elliptical to any degree, or any other shape whereby the ends shall be above the level of the center, or it maybe flat .or

straight for use with semi-elliptical or similar springs. Made of steel pressed to chanl nel Or Similar Section, the flanges 2 2 may Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, Application lled October 6, 1916. Serial N o. 124,036.

be the same width the whole length, the web 3 3 being` widest at the-point designed to be attached to the axle and tapering toward the ends to which shall be welded oririveted, or both, cast or forged lugs with yokes 4 4, the same being provided with bolt-holes for 'bolts 5 5. the correct width to receive `the spring ends 6 6. To .the yokes 4 4 shackles 7 7 are attached at either one or both ends df the cradle 1. l

In the drawings 8 represents the spring, so designed and of straight or nearly straight or Hat, when under normal load. That is to say, under normal load of chassis, body and passengers or load7 the main leaf 9 of the spring will be in practically an even plane between the pointsof suspension. The spring is constructed of a main leaf 9 of vanadium or other high class spring steel, and .forged over at each end 6 to form a hole l0 to receive a suspension ybolt 5 or 11. Then pairs of leaves 12 12, are

placed each side of the main leaf 9, in graduating lengths, the longest being next to the main leaf andthe shortest leaves finally at the top and bottom and all fitted with U form clips or other means in common use to prevent the leaves from spreading, not shown. The number and thickness of the leaves l2 12 may vary according to the weight and service required of the'vehicle, automobile or truck for which they are constructed, or there may be graduated lengths of leaves l2 on one side only of the main leaf 9, or there may be graduated lengths of leaves 12 12 on both sides of the main leaf 9 but more on one side than the other as shown in Fig. 5. The several leaves such strength that it shall be Y forming the spring may be secured together by a cast or wrought plate 14 14, on one or both sides at the mid point of the spring, in conjunction with U bolts 15., which clamp the whole to the fittings 13 on the chassis frame. The length of the shackle or shackles 7 7 may vary to suit the service for which the suspension is designed.

By my above described invention the entire weight of the chassis and body of the vehicle, automobile or truck is brought to bear on the center or near. the center and at the thickest part of the springs. The jars and shocks resulting from uneven roads and pavements are transmitted through the wheels, axles and rigid cradles to the thin and flexible ends 6 6 of the springs at the points of suspension where they are most quickly absorbed and transmitted to a negligilble degree through thethick portion of t e springs on which the chassis and body with itsl passengers or load rides smoothly and easily. And, on account of the practically flat springs in the rigid cradles, that which is'commonly known as side-sway is practically if not entirely eliminated.

It will be readily seen from the above description that, although various types of suspended springs may have been employed in buggies, carriages and similar horse-drawn vehicles, in my cradle spring suspension for self-propelled vehicles, automobiles and trucks, by my arrangement of the cradles on the axles at right angles, with thesprings suspended therein and attached at the four l corners of the chassis or body, parallel with the side frame of same and in line with the direction of travel, so that each individual spring in its respective cradle is actuated Vindependently of any of the other springs, by anysudden depression or bump of the road surface over which the wheel nearest such spring suspension may pass, I minimize the resultant `shock or jar to the chassis or body and the tortional twist that would be given to springs placed parallel with the axle.

and transversely to the body under similar circumstances is` eliminated, even if such previously conceived vehicle (horse-drawn) springsy and suspensions could be adapted to the rigorous use and high speed travel of the modern automobile and self-propelled vehicle.

Having described `my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersAPatent l 1. On a self-propelled vehicle, a spring suspension comprising a relatively rigid cradle supported by the vehicle axle at right angles thereto and a double-ended laminated spring connected at its thin ends to the' ends of the cradle and rigidly connected at its thick intermediate portion to the frame of the vehicle.

2. A spring suspension for automobiles l and like vehicles, comprising a relatively rigid cradle supported by the vehicle wheel at right angles to the axle, and double-ended I laminated spring means having thin ends the level of its center and supported by the vehicle wheel at right angles to the axle, and

a double-ended laminated spring means hav- A ing its thin ends connected to the ends of the cradle and its ,'intermediate portion rigidly connected to'the 4vehicle frame and standingsubstantially straight between those ends un'- der normal load.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification. f

HERBERT H. NEALE.

5o` connected to the ends of the cradle and a 

